Kansas.com: Nation and World

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:03 CST

ST.PETERSBURG, Russia — President Dmitry Medvedev of Russia chided officials in the ruling Kremlin-backed party with unprecedented bluntness on Saturday, saying they should stop trying to manipulate elections and learn to win fairly.

The statement was Medvedev's strongest criticism yet of the United Russia party led by his predecessor and mentor, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. United Russia controls parliament and serves as a power base for Putin, who has not ruled out a return to the presidency in 2012.

While unusually direct, Medvedev's statement appeared to be an attempt to respond to opposition criticism of recent local elections rather than mount a challenge to Putin.

Imam talks jihad on social media

HANNAH ALLAM — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:03 CST

CAIRO, Egypt — The Yemeni-American imam who's been under renewed scrutiny after the deadly shootings at Fort Hood, Texas, preaches against alcohol, birthday parties, black magic and extramarital sex. He also supports armed struggle — jihad — against the U.S. military in Afghanistan and Iraq, and has encouraged extremist insurgents in Pakistan and Somalia.

None of that sets Anwar al-Awlaki, 38, apart from other militant Sunni Muslim clerics — and even many mainstream ones — in the Middle East. Awlaki uses digital means to spread his views, however, through a blog, lectures on YouTube and Facebook pages with more than 1,000 fans.

American-born and popular with young Westernized Muslims, Awlaki preaches mainly in English and drops pop-culture references, invoking Michael Jackson in a sermon on death or the parable of a marijuana-smoking Muslim who turned his life around.

Complaints against airlines drop 12%

HUGO MARTIN — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:03 CST

After hearing Jim Engle of Sierra Madre, Calif., talk about the headaches he and his wife endured on a round trip to Detroit on American Airlines this summer, it might be surprising to hear that U.S. airlines continue to receive great marks in customer service.

The Engles suffered through several delays, an unscheduled stop and airline staff who, he said, were curt and unhelpful.

"And I don't have enough time to tell you about the extra charges for baggage and food and water, which ran out before half the plane was served," he said.

Debate on screening for cancer is complex

KAREN KAPLAN — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:03 CST

It seemed like a good idea at the time.

In 1984, Japan began screening the urine of 6-month-old infants for neuroblastoma, the most common type of solid tumor in young children. The test was simple and could show signs of cancer long before clinical symptoms arose.

Hundreds of infants went through the ordeal of diagnosis and treatment, but it didn't reduce the number of tumors found later, including deadly ones. Almost none of the tumors caught by screening turned out to be dangerous — and more of the screened children died of complications from surgery and chemotherapy than from the cancer itself.

Iran practices protecting its nuclear site

ALI AKBAR DAREINI — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:03 CST

TEHRAN, Iran — Iran will begin large-scale air defense war games today aimed at protecting its nuclear facilities from possible attack, a senior military commander said Saturday, reflecting the country's concern that Israel could make good on threats to strike militarily.

The drill comes as a top clerical official renewed his threat to target ''the heart of Tel Aviv'' should Israel attack Iran.

The five-day drill will involve Iran's elite Revolutionary Guard and the regular army and will cover 230,000 square miles of central, western and southern Iran, said air force Gen. Ahmad Mighani.

Suspect in Fort Hood killings to be held until trial

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:03 CST

SAN ANTONIO — A military magistrate has ruled that the Army psychiatrist charged in one of the worst mass shootings on a U.S. military base will be held until trial.

For now, Maj. Nidal Hasan will stay in a military hospital in San Antonio.

The magistrate made that decision Saturday during a hearing in Hasan's hospital room. Hasan is recovering from the Nov. 5 shooting at Fort Hood, Texas, that killed 13 and wounded more than two dozen.

Palin attracting large crowds on book tour

ERIKA BOLSTAD — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:03 CST

WASHINGTON, Pa. —When Sarah Palin made her first trip to western Pennsylvania as GOP presidential candidate John McCain's fresh-faced running mate, the Arizona senator warned locals that she "doesn't let anyone tell her to sit down."

Palin returned to Washington, Pa., on her own Saturday as a "Commonsense Conservative," a definition crafted on her own terms and in her own words in her own best-selling memoir, "Going Rogue."

"It's grassroots America; it's common sense," said Joy Koplinski, 62, a retiree from Pittsburgh who waited overnight in the parking lot of a Sam's Club warehouse store for Palin to autograph a copy of the book. "She's the female Ronald Reagan."

21 still trapped after big mine explosion in China

CARA ANNA — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:03 CST

HARBIN, China — Rescuers working in frigid cold and darkness tried to reach 66 people believed trapped a third of a mile underground after a huge gas explosion Saturday ripped through a coal mine in northern China, killing at least 87 people.

The predawn blast at the state-run Xinxing mine in Heilongjiang province near the border with Russia is the latest to hit China's mining industry, the world's deadliest. Authorities say safety is improving, but hundreds still die in major accidents each year.

Large state-owned coal mines, such as Xinxing, are generally considered safer than smaller, private ones that account for the bulk of production. The blast underscores the difficulties the government faces in trying to boost safety while maintaining output. Coal is vital to the vast population and booming economy, as China uses it to generate about three-quarters of its electricity.

EPA: Old mine polluting area

SCOTT SONNER — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:03 CST

YERINGTON, Nev. —Peggy Pauly lives in a robin-egg blue, two-story house not far from acres of onion fields that make the northern Nevada air smell sweet at harvest time.

But she can look through the window from her kitchen table, just past her backyard with its swingset and pet llama, and see an ominous sign on a neighboring fence: ''Danger: Uranium Mine.''

For almost a decade, people who make their homes in this rural community in the Mason Valley 65 miles southeast of Reno have blamed that enormous abandoned mine for the high levels of uranium in their water wells.

Anglican, Catholic leaders wrap up tough Vatican visit

VICTOR L. SIMPSON — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:03 CST

VATICAN CITY — After offering a home in his church to disaffected Anglicans, Pope Benedict XVI assured the archbishop of Canterbury that he is still committed to seeking closer relations between Catholics and Anglicans.

Archbishop Rowan Williams said he came away convinced there was no ''dawn raid'' on his church by Rome, telling Vatican Radio he wishes ''every blessing'' for those who want to become Catholics.

Williams and Benedict met privately for 20 minutes on Saturday in what the Vatican called ''cordial discussions,'' as part of what has clearly been a difficult visit by the Anglican leader.

Senate votes to debate health bill

DAVID LIGHTMAN — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:03 CST

WASHINGTON — The Senate voted 60-39 Saturday to clear the way for consideration of historic legislation to overhaul the nation's health care system, but reluctant Democratic moderates sent strong signals that the bill has an uncertain future.

Saturday's test vote was about whether to cut off a Republican-led filibuster and begin formal debate on the Senate Democrats' proposed $848 billion, 2,074-page health care plan.

Now that the Senate has cleared the way, it's expected to start considering the health care bill during the week of Nov. 30. Saturday's debate was essentially a preview of what's ahead, and it illustrated how divided the two political parties are on a range of issues.

More militia groups springing up in U.S.

RACHEL D'ORO — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:03 CST

NIKISKI, Alaska — Norm Olson's genial tone belies his reputation as a radical militiaman, yet here he is, at 63, an affable grandfather explaining why Americans should arm themselves against their government.

Walking stick in hand, clad in military fatigues, he strolls a trail in the woods near his home, located on 22 acres near Nikiski, a small, unincorporated community with isolated roads and no local government. The nearest state trooper post is two towns away.

A fellow militiaman, armed with an assault rifle, walks along as Olson — a man whose conspiracy theories were so extreme that he was kicked out of the group he founded, the Michigan Militia, 15 years ago — discourses on the need for a paramilitary Alaska Citizens Militia.